826 �Poplar �St. �Built �in �the �late 1890s, this house has 12 inch studs made of
cypress �and �oak �timber. Early owners were the Driest brothers, Albertus and Claus,
and their sister, Rufie. They came here from Germany. Albertus was a foreman at L. M.
Palmer Cooperage Co., Claus and Rufie were in the grocery business in the building at
the corner of Poplar and Eighth streets. The architectural style is Four Square.
I remember visiting this home in the late 50's. We called Rufie, Aunt Rufie, although
she �was �not really our aunt. She and my paternal Grandmother, Grace Derry were best
of �friends. �Grace �lived �across �the �street �in �a white frame house. Is it still
standing? Grace may have been living with either the Adams or Ferguson family at that
time. Aunt Rufie made a beautiful dress for Grandmother Grace. We have a photo of her
in �the dress. When my parents and I visited, we stayed in an upstairs front bedroom,
I �believe. �Aunt �Rufie had beautiful furnishings in her home. She never married and
there �were �no �brothers �at the time. She lived by herself. We later heard that she
gave �away �most �of �her �belonging to an organization of some kind. Do you have any
information �on her birth or death? It seems to me that she died in about 1960? Would
this �be �correct? �My Father was Francis Joseph Sauerwein. His father, George Joseph
Sauerwein �had �a �meat �market. �We have photos of his market. I forget where it was
located. �I remember seeing the building in the 1950's with my parents, Daddy pointed
it �out �to me. I wish I had paid better attention. I transcribed a copy of A Growing
Town �for a Butler County web site. Daddy gave me the copy. It was always kept in the
piano �bench. �Oh, �I �think �Grace worked in a tobacco shop prior to her marriage to
George �in about 1903. I wonder if that possibly contributed to her early death at 42
of �cancer? �I'd �never �thought of that. Supposedly you could collect cigar ribbons,
similar �to �a Green Stamp program, and trade them for items. We have small table and
also �a �table �clock which she got this way. Do you know anything about this? Oh, we
also �have photos of a parade, Grace was on a float and George was in the band. Thank
you �for �a �precious �walk down memory lane. |